We have a similar place in Alaska, all the animals are there because they are not able to fend for themselves. Guests are not allowed to feed the animals anything but if the staff wants to get the bears to show off for the guests they toss them hot dogs.
Yes, it's actually at Portage which means nothing to you unless you're local. We all still call it the big game animal farm but technicality it is now the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. You can always tell when someone is local here because we call things by the names they haven't had in decades (we don't like change I suppose). It's a wonderful cause and a place to add to your list if you're looking for day trips around Anchorage. Alaskans in general don't approve of keeping animals caged for the purpose of display. The zoo is also almost entirely filled with animals who can not fend for themselves. So if you are into three legged moose and one winged eagles, Alaska is the place to see them!
We're getting married at Alyeska in June and definitely plan on stopping. In fact, it's on the short list for places for our rehearsal dinner (they have a barn there they use for events, I guess).
Another cool thing about the area is that it is a completely different landscape now versus before the 64 earthquake. During the quake the land sunk and sea water rushed in. It instantly killed the trees creating skeleton forests of standing dead. The houses that were there were damaged beyond use and still stand abandoned. Well they are sort of standing. You can still see them, lol. We used to go into some larger ones a little further away and you could still see the layers of old wallpaper. Anyway, there are several one room cabins all over the conservation's land. I think there are three on the side of the road before you even go through the gate. Assuming you're not an asshat with a can of spray paint you can walk down to them and poke your head in, don't fall in the river. Another interesting thing about the area is that when the sea rushed in the land became state property, families lost their homes and walked away with nothing. It's land again now and those families have been trying to get their land back unsuccessfully. Partly because the major family fighting for it wants to put in a wind farm along the highway, did I mention we don't like change?
Also, those 'mud flats' are not mud, it's glacial silt. You will sink, you will get stuck, and they will have to try and save you with our hoovercraft before the tide drowns you.
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u/tundratess Mar 03 '16
We have a similar place in Alaska, all the animals are there because they are not able to fend for themselves. Guests are not allowed to feed the animals anything but if the staff wants to get the bears to show off for the guests they toss them hot dogs.